lectionary.com

Lenten Season · Easter Vigil Fifth Reading · Year A

Isaiah 55:1-11

Invitation to the Thirsty

April 4, 2026

The Fountain of Life, Master of the Fountain of Life
The Fountain of Life, Master of the Fountain of Life, c. 1511National Gallery Prague
Below the cross, a Gothic fountain pours out the water of life, and crowds of the faithful, monks, nuns and laypeople, gather to drink from it.Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.Master of the Fountain of LifeAn unnamed painter of about 1511, named after this panel of the Fountain of Life.National Gallery PragueThe National Gallery Prague, the Czech national collection of art.National Gallery Prague
Roman Lectionary
GospelMatt. 28:1-10Mt 28:1-10
Second ReadingRom. 6:3-11Rom 6:3-11
First ReadingIsa. 55:1-11Is 55:1-11
Responsorial PsalmIsa. 12:2-3, 4, 5-6 (3)Is 12:2-3, 4, 5-6 (3)

Overview & Insights

“Seek the Lord while he may be found, call on him while he is near.” (Isaiah 55:6)

An Invitation to Sing: Once again a return to a focus on Ms Jerusalem follows the servant passage, as happened after 49:1–6 and 50:4–11. There were hints there that Ms Jerusalem’s restoration was the correlate of Ms Babylon’s humiliation in chapter 47. Chapter 54 is the systematic exposition of that theme. The prophet takes up five images of Ms Jerusalem which once again resume the themes of the people’s prayers (we are like a childless and abandoned woman, the victim of angry abuse—literally, we are a battered and insecure city) before coming to a striking conclusion.

From Sermons.com: Join Today to access the most scholarly & well written preaching resources anywhere.

Take it further: Isaiah 55:1-11

Commentary

Commentary on Isaiah 55:1-11Commentary on Is 55:1-11 Working Preacher

Luther Seminary's Easter Vigil commentary on this exact reading, tying God's word that does not return empty to the promise of resurrection.

Isaiah 55:1-9Is 55:1-9 Center for Excellence in Preaching

A Reformed preaching commentary reading the invitation to buy food without price as God's free offer of soul-nourishing grace.

Isaiah 55 Commentary: An Invitation to Receive the GloryIs 55 Commentary: An Invitation to Receive the Glory Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik's verse-by-verse evangelical commentary on the whole chapter, from the free invitation to the sure success of God's word.

Isaiah 55:1 CommentariesIs 55:1 Commentaries BibleHub

Aggregates classic commentators (Barnes, Gill, Matthew Henry, Pulpit) verse by verse for the opening call to the waters.

The Easter Vigil (Year B), Dr. Brant Pitre Catholic Productions · Brant Pitre

A Catholic scholar walks the full sweep of the Vigil's Old Testament readings, including Isaiah 55, within salvation history.

Background & Word Study

Isaiah 55 (Hebrew and English)Is 55 (Hebrew and English) Sefaria

The Hebrew text alongside English with Jewish commentary layers for close study of the original wording.

Isaiah 55:1 InterlinearIs 55:1 Interlinear BibleHub

Word-by-word Hebrew with Strong's numbers and parsing for the verbs of invitation and abundance.

The Church Fathers

Isaiah 55, CatenaIs 55, Catena Catena

Collects patristic and medieval comment on each verse, showing how the Fathers read the free banquet as the gospel.

Prep at sermons.com

Ready to write?

  • Full sermons on Matthew 28:1-10
  • Illustrations cleared for use in worship
  • Commentary, quotes, and Bible dictionary
Open it at sermons.com →

Trusted by pastors since 1995.

Free every Tuesday

Illustrations & Sermon Prep in your inbox

The coming Sunday’s readings, a cleared-for-use illustration, and a sermon-prep head start. One email, free.